Mexican Buckeye, Monilla

Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

Origin: USA (New Mexico, Texas), northern Mexico, along stream banks and in cliff faces, at 1000 to 6500 feet elevation (300-2000 m)

Growth Habits: Deciduous upright or spreading shrub or small tree, fast growing to 4 to 30 feet tall (1.2-9 m), up to 20 feet spread (6 m); mottled gray-brown bark; odd-pinnate leaves, 3 to 7 (to 9) dark green ovate leaflets, 2 to 4 inches long (5-10 cm), with serrate margins and lighter undersides; the leaves turn yellow in the fall.

Watering Needs: Little water, needs good drainage, prefers an alkaline soil

Propagation: Seeds

The black round seeds are poisonous.
The genus is named after the baron David von Ungnad, 16th century Austrian ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

Blooming Habits:
The Mexican Buckeye has small, fragrant, four-petaled light pink to purplish pink flowers, in clusters, in early spring.